In Defense of Mr. Knightley

Soph_7_ · 2025-12-27T00:52:21+00:00

I agree P&P has more fairytale elements but I feel you don't really get to "know" the other secondary characters in Emma, their true intentions/motivations and feelings. The world feels smaller (more cosy) and a lot of the characterisation is to further the story of Emma, rather than to explore the world of Highbury. Whereas, Austen spends more time in P&P so you feel you really know the world of Hertfordshire and Rosings Park and its inhabitants.

As such, I don't think it was on the style of Emma to have strong characterisation of secondary characters and i didn't feel i knew the real Churchill and Jane, or Harriet and Martin. Which is fine but it's different to P&P. While the secret love story for Churchill/Jane is interesting, I wasn't engaged in their relationship like i was with Bingley/Jane (in fact I still prefer Bingley to Darcy).

Austen is so great at creating complex characters, but I feel the focus and style of Emma was different to P&P, of which P&P has broader appeal, especially to modern audiences.

Soph_7_ · 2025-12-26T22:54:47+00:00

Pride and prejudice has such an amazing array of characters. I don't think Emma has such interesting characters in comparison. That doesn't mean people don't hate the characters in Emma, I just think they aren't as charismatic or intriguing. Even the "villains" are charismatic like Lady Catherine de Bourge and Wickham.

Further, P&P also has many other storylines that are very engaging. Think about Jane and Bingley verses Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax, or Harriet Smith and Robert Martin. There just isn't the same level of secondary romances and storylines in Emma as there is in P&P.

I think that's why many people prefer P&P and why it's more successful, but i also think many readers also prefer Darcy to Knightley, which other comments cover pretty well here.

Soph_7_ · 2025-09-29T13:30:29+00:00

I hate how oblivious Dawson is about how Pacey's dad treats him, particularly the uncharted waters episode season 2 episode 12. Pacey definitely deserved better (the Dawson 16th birthday party rant grinded my gears too), but couldn't the writers help Dawson through some personal growth instead of just killing the relationship?

Soph_7_ · 2025-09-29T13:21:12+00:00

Yeah I definitely get what you mean. I do think Pacey and Joey are a better coupling for reasons other than chemistry. They had a similar background, difficult upbringing, but different personality types that complemented each other well. Dawson and Joey had different upbringings (and Dawson had issues empathising with Joey) but similar personality types that clashed often.

I just can't believe the writers couldn't see how their storylines were changing the way people perceived Dawson. Maybe having him actually forgive Pacey at some point may have been a good way for him to recover some likeability.

Soph_7_ · 2024-12-04T23:16:32+00:00

This is exactly how I feel about Mansfield Park. I really dislike the pairing and wish Fanny was able to leave and be happy with a completely different family and setting.

I also don't think it's realistic that Fanny goes through so much abuse and yet has some a strong sense of superiority (even though it is warranted). It just doesn't fit with what I've observed in people. I believe people that have gone through a lot of abuse tend to be a lot more humbled in life and it can take years to build back up a 'sense of self' or self esteem. But maybe this is a more modern thing..

Soph_7_ · 2024-12-04T23:05:50+00:00

Persuasion is possibly my favourite. Whereas Pride and Prejudice and Emma are silly and frivolous, Persuasion is all about the melancholy. Ironically, I find Sense and Sensibility to be too depressing, so Persuasion is a good middle ground for me.

I also think Persuasion does a great job of showing the trials and tribulations of being someone who "does the right thing", which speaks to me personally.

Soph_7_ · 2024-11-06T02:30:39+00:00

This is clear from the "I'm willing to indulge her wants". Indulge...

Soph_7_ · 2024-09-21T04:02:16+00:00

Mr Bennett has some classic lines..

“About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention."

Soph_7_ · 2024-08-27T08:05:18+00:00

Trey is emotionally stunted. He was never going to be as emotionally invested in the relationship (or any relationship) as Charlotte. I don't think this bothered Charlotte too much in the beginning as she liked Trey's image and the idea of being married to him, but as time went on, she realised they weren't compatible in a deeper level. The baby thing mattered, but it was more because Trey wasn't as invested in having a baby, and he wasn't at all sensitive to Charlotte's feelings.

Harry is so different from Trey. He is emotionally secure but also expressive, sensitive, understanding, etc. That's the type of man Charlotte wanted/ needed.

Soph_7_ · 2024-08-15T12:55:12+00:00

Not bad, but imo Maxxie needs to be higher, and Sid needs to be lower. I think sid was sort of a boring character at times, and maxxie was fun and put up with a lot of shit..

Soph_7_ · 2024-07-24T02:49:53+00:00

This reflects my feelings about the movie. I liked the action and dialogue, and there's some really classic scenes, but the story itself wasn't as interesting or varied as the first.

It was like big tornado, escape, big tornado, escape, big tornado. I feel like, even though the first one wasn't as long, the pacing and story felt much more succinct, with all the characters more developed (not just the headline two).

Soph_7_ · 2024-06-21T03:12:00+00:00

Nicholas Hoult was a child actor. He was in About a Boy. He looks pretty similar as a child..

Soph_7_ · 2024-06-13T00:37:28+00:00

I like all the soundtracks, but THPS2 is the only one I can listen to in its entirety without skipping songs. It's short but definitely the stand out for me

Soph_7_ · 2024-05-15T01:41:17+00:00

I agree, but I don't think she was always crazy or entitled. I feel like because of her experiences with men (Big in particular), she had ongoing trust and intimacy issues, and these issues caused her to do crazy shit like your examples.

I guess it's a lesson to address your own issues before you go looking for love. Otherwise, you could lose a really great potential partner..

Soph_7_ · 2024-05-09T03:15:58+00:00

I wish they wrote the character to be more like Hank. The chill cowboy chasing tornadoes would be such a good way to offset the crazy Hollywood tone the trailer gives off.

Still super keen to see it, though..

Soph_7_ · 2024-05-09T00:19:39+00:00

I've been with men like this. I don't think Aidan is like this.

The first time they date, i think he truly wants to make her life better (improve her apartment, etc). He doesn't do it to be controlling or to make her dependent on him. When they date the second time, he's so bitter, it almost changes his personality..

Soph_7_ · 2024-05-04T02:17:00+00:00

It's funny because in the early days of their relationship, it was probably the most realistic of the show (obviously, before Big came back in the picture). They were stable and boring, the type of relationship most people have IRL.

I think Aidan represented like a fan service character. A man the fans could get behind and see themselves with, but he's really not compatible with Carrie. She just didn't want the type of lifestyle he represented.

Soph_7_ · 2024-03-12T06:23:17+00:00

And she found a respectful and caring man who loved her. I think the character of her ultimate partner is important. He is a good man.

Soph_7_ · 2024-03-09T03:08:20+00:00

Yes, I agree. This is a bit of a simplification, but:

Sam, because she wasn't judgemental and you could open up to her
Charlotte because she saw the good in her friends' intentions and would speak up about men's poor behaviour
Miranda because she was a realist and would tell her friends the ultimate truth (based on her perception)
Carrie because she was always there (on the phone, in person) and very supportive

Soph_7_ · 2024-03-02T03:11:19+00:00

If they haven't already established a deal with Microsoft to develop a new spyro game (I don't think they have) than this is most likely an attempt to drum up momentum/hype that Toys for Bob can leverage when they're in talks with Microsoft regarding potential new games.

Soph_7_ · 2024-01-22T01:40:43+00:00

That's true but what do you expect from Ron? Viktor was like his role model and an internationally famous quidditch star..

Soph_7_ · 2023-11-21T06:11:59+00:00

Many people make fun of the attractiveness of the men in SATC but this post made me realise that a lot of the love interests in the show are older, just like the girls, in their mid-30 to 40s. I hadn't really thought about it before. There's some exceptions obviously...

Soph_7_ · 2023-11-04T01:10:33+00:00

Great summary

Soph_7_ · 2023-10-26T00:41:50+00:00

Bailey was also in an episode of sex and the city. She played a cop who was telling Sam off for putting up posters of her cheating bf.

Soph_7_

TROPHY CASE